KUNC Hired New News Director For Fort Collins Move
Veteran journalist Linda Carpio Shapley will lead news operations as the station relocates to Fort Collins.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Media
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KUNC has appointed Linda Carpio Shapley as its new news director, a move coinciding with the station relocating from Greeley to Fort Collins. This transition follows the station's merger with Rocky Mountain Public Media.
Why it matters
The appointment and relocation mark a major operational shift for the station as it integrates with broader public media infrastructure. The move to a new downtown facility aims to solidify the organization's presence in its new home base.
The station is moving into a 7,000-square-foot facility at 300 E. Mountain Ave. that represents a $3.5 million investment. The acquisition covers multiple frequencies including KUNC at 91.5 FM and KJAC at 105.5 FM.
The players
Linda Carpio Shapley
She is the newly appointed news director at KUNC who previously worked at The Denver Post and served as interim leader of Rocky Mountain Student Media.
KUNC
This is a public radio station formerly based in Greeley that is now merging with Rocky Mountain Public Media and moving its operations.
Rocky Mountain Public Media
This organization is the parent entity acquiring KUNC and KJAC stations as part of a larger regional media consolidation.
Federal Communications Commission
This federal agency is responsible for regulating interstate and international communications and approved the KUNC station acquisition.
Bohemian Foundation
This private foundation is supporting the station's relocation by providing a new studio space in Fort Collins.
The details
Linda Carpio Shapley, who previously held roles at Colorado Community Media, Colorado Politics, The Denver Post, and CSU's Rocky Mountain Student Media, will lead the newsroom during this transition. The acquisition involves the transfer of full-power radio stations and low-power translators to Rocky Mountain Public Media under an asset purchase agreement.
Timeline
March 2026: Merger discussions were reported.
June 30, 2026: The asset purchase agreement was signed.
July 2, 2026: The acquisition application was filed with the FCC.
August 13, 2026: The FCC approved the transaction.
October 2026: Shapley begins her role as news director.
Market Landscape
This move reflects a growing industry trend of consolidating local public media stations under centralized regional networks to optimize operations. By moving to a shared facility and merging management, the station seeks to leverage greater scale against other local broadcast rivals.
Listeners can expect continued service on existing frequencies as the station integrates its management and moves its physical office. This corporate transition is designed to stabilize the organization's regional presence rather than change individual subscriber access or pricing.
The takeaway
The consolidation of public media assets highlights a shift toward resource-sharing models among nonprofit broadcasters. Listeners in the region can anticipate that these corporate changes are intended to preserve local news coverage through shared infrastructure.
Further reading
For more on how local broadcasting is changing, visit Media.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BizWest.
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